The Royal Mews houses the State vehicles, both horse-drawn carriages and motor cars, used for Coronations, State Visits, Royal Weddings, the State Opening of Parliament and Official Engagements. Visitors can also see the Gold State Coach.

This is not only a working stable with all the usual chores associated with horses, it is also the showcase for the State coaches and royal carriages. You can see the royal horses being fed, groomed and mucked out, exercised and trained by the Royal Household staff and grooms. These mundane activities are carried on in the most elegant surroundings.

The airy stables are painted white with arched stalls supported on slender pillars topped with gold decoration. The horses are mainly Cleveland Bays, the only British horse bred for carriage work, and Windsor Greys.

Whichever coach The Queen is travelling in it will be pulled by the Windsor Greys.

Gold State Coach

On display is the Gold State Coach used for Coronations, carriages used for Royal and State occasions, weddings, State visits and the State Opening of Parliament.

About The Mews

The present Royal Mews were remodelled by architect John Nash in 1825. Nash designed a Doric arch at the entrance to the central Mews courtyard, built the carriage houses on the east side and two sets of State Stables with room for 54 horses around a central courtyard.

Successive monarchs have added accommodation for the staff and their families and modernised the Mews. The latest project is to extend the electronic communications network from the Palace to the Mews to provide staff with email and internet access.

The Royal Household Mews staff handles all road transport for the Royal Family including both horse-drawn and motorised. One of the State cars is usually on display but it is the carriages and coaches that visitors love to see.

As well as maintaining these vehicles and looking after the horses, the Mews staff also carry on some traditions from the 19th century. Every day since 1843 a messenger brougham leaves the Mews to collect and deliver mail between the Royal households.

They also collect newly appointed foreign Ambassadors to the Court of St James’s and convey them by carriage to the Palace for their audience with the Queen. Afterwards the carriage takes them back to their official residences.

Plan Your Visit

Opening Times

April – October: Open every day 10:00 – 17:00 hours.

A visit will take approximately 1 hour.

Check The Mews website (link below) for February, March and November opening times.

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